Price, defense deliver as Ricebirds seize 8-4A title at Hamburg

Stuttgart 52, Hamburg 41

HAMBURG — Stuttgart closed on a 24–6 run to clinch the 8-4A championship Thursday, riding junior quarterback Cain Price’s four rushing touchdowns and a late takeaway that finally slowed Hamburg’s high-powered ground game. Price added a 6‑yard scoring strike to Jeremiah Jackson and directed a balanced attack that matched the Lions score for score before pulling away in the fourth.

Senior Ni’kel Lewis was brilliant for Hamburg, rushing for four touchdowns—including runs of 23, 2, 1 and 3 yards—behind a veteran line, while quarterback Kaeden Thomas broke free for a 20‑yard score and later found Ke’ovion Brown for a late touchdown. Kicker Alberto Aguilar converted five PATs for the Lions.

Stuttgart’s supporting cast made the difference late. Dawson McKelvey drilled a 31‑yard field goal and went 7‑for‑7 on PATs to push the margin to two scores, and Beau Barnes’s fourth‑quarter interception short‑circuited a Hamburg drive. Tayquan Hall pounded in a 1‑yard touchdown and Quarterion “QT” Johnson hauled in a 26‑yard TD earlier as the Ricebirds kept pace through a 28‑28 half.

Scoring summary
1st Quarter
Hamburg – Lewis 23 run (Aguilar kick), HAM 7–0.
Stuttgart – Price 5 run (McKelvey kick), 7–7.
Hamburg – Thomas 20 run (Aguilar kick), HAM 14–7.
Stuttgart – Hall 1 run (McKelvey kick), 14–14.
Hamburg – Lewis 2 run (Aguilar kick), HAM 21–14.

2nd Quarter
Stuttgart – Johnson 26 pass from Price (McKelvey kick), 21–21.
Hamburg – Lewis 1 run (Aguilar kick), HAM 28–21.
Stuttgart – Price 1 run (McKelvey kick), 28–28.

3rd Quarter
Stuttgart – Price 13 run (McKelvey kick), SHS 35–28.
Hamburg – Lewis 3 run (Aguilar kick), 35–35.
Stuttgart – Price 24 run (McKelvey kick), SHS 42–35.

4th Quarter
Stuttgart – McKelvey 31 FG, SHS 45–35.
Stuttgart – Jackson 6 pass from Price (McKelvey kick), SHS 52–35.
Hamburg – Brown 19 pass from Thomas (two‑point pass failed), Final 52–41.

Players who stood out

• Cain Price, QB, Stuttgart — 4 rushing TDs; 1 TD pass.

• Dawson McKelvey, K, Stuttgart — 31‑yd FG; 7 PATs.

• Beau Barnes, DE/TE, Stuttgart — clutch 4Q interception.

• Ni’kel Lewis, RB, Hamburg — 4 rushing TDs, broke Arkansas State record for Tds in a season with 47.

• Kaeden Thomas, QB, Hamburg — 20‑yd TD run; late TD pass to Brown.